By Kasey Fowler, Staff Writer
Enid News and Eagle
ENID — With the economic downturn people are looking at going back to school or trying to gain new skills. Autry Technology Center is offering classes and career programs to help people looking for a job or those just trying to keep their current jobs.
Molly Helm, director of communications and marketing for Autry Technology Center, said she has seen an increased interest in classes for people who wish to start their own businesses at Autry since the economic downturn.
“One of the biggest training is entrepreneurial training. A lot of a time in a down economy people see it as an opportunity to start their own business,” said Helm. “We have also seen a real spike for assistance through our business development center.”
A new program at Autry is Business Development Academy, which starts in March.
“It is the basic steps and things you need to know to start your own business,” said Helm.
The health care program at Autry also has seen increased enrollment since the industry still needs jobs.
“We have also seen more interest in, and we have had to add more, health care classes. There continues to be people trained to be CNAs and CMAs (certified nursing and medical assistants). There has been an interest in that,” said Helm. “In the Enid community there are job openings in that area. People also use those jobs as a gateway to see if they like patient care, and they then may go through one of our nursing programs or to one the local colleges.”
Online classes at Autry also have seen increased enrollment.
“You can do everything from getting your GED to accounting to personal fi-nances. People can get the kind of training they want as they need it,” said Helm.
Autry also is offering new courses in a field that has exploded just in the last year.
“There are also a lot of people interested in social media like, Facebook and Twitter. It is for people who are looking at free or cheap ways to market their businesses,” said Helm.
According to Helm, people often aren’t aware Autry can assist with business plans.
“That is something for small or large businesses to be able to tap into stimulus money that is coming into a state. If we can be sure as much stimulus money that can is coming into the state and community that is a good thing, and maybe jobs will come, too,” said Helm.
People also are going to Autry to get career counseling to look at changing their lines of work.
Overall, Autry has seen enrollment increase due to the rough economy.
“We have seen an increased interest in people to get new skills for a new career or to keep a job they have, as well,” said Helm.
